Air delivery system

ABSTRACT

An air delivery system for particulate material wherein a vacuum is created in an area communicating an intake port with the flow of delivery air and a stream of pressurized air is directed into said area from a point adjacent the intake port to reduce turbulence caused by atmospheric air carrying entrained crop material into said intake port. The system also contemplates gradually expanding the cross-sectional area of the ducts throughout the delivery path to reduce damage to material entrained in the delivery air flow. Both method and apparatus are disclosed.

D United States Patent 91 [111 3,868,032

Lundahl *Feb. 25, 1975 [54] AIR DELIVERY SYSTEM 3,556,327 l/197l Garrison 214/522 3,691,741 9 1972 Wh' l. 4 [75] Inventor: Ezra Cordell Lundahl, Idaho Falls, m a 56/3 4 Idaho [73] Assignee: Ezra C. Lundahl lnc.,, Logan, Utah 'f Exami'fer Robert Spar Assistant ExamznerKenneth Noland 1 1 Nome? The P of the term of thls Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lynn G. Foster patent subsequent to May 22, 1990, has been disclaimed.

[22] Filed: Mar. 21, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 343,325

Related us. Application Data {\n arr delivery system for particulate material wherein V a vacuum IS created in an area communicating an m- [62] Division of Scr. No. 19554), Nov. 4 1971 Pat. No. k n i h h fl f d n hd a stream f 1734565 pressurized air is directed into said area from a point w adjacent the intake port to reduce turbulence caused 5. Us. Cl 214/522.214/83.e8, 302/47, by atmospheric air Carrying entrained Crop material] 56/344 into said intake port. The system also contemplates [51] 1131. C1 B60p 1/2]: gradually expanding the cross sectiona area of the [58] Fleld of Search 214-78328, 83.3, 522, ducts throughout the d y p to reduce damdge 302/47 56/341 345 to material entrained in the delivery air flow. Both method and apparatus are disclosed. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Claim 3 Drawing Figures 2399.718 5/1946 Baker et al. 56/14 J 30 1h k I [ll 1 l8 1 M PATENIED FEB 2 51975 SHEET 1 BF PATENIEQFEBZS 13. 5

summit AIR DELIVERY SYSTEM This application is a division of my copending US. Patent Application Ser. No. 195,549, filed Nov. 4, 1971, now US. Pat. No. 3,734,568, which issued May 22, 1973.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of Invention This invention relates to delivery systems and is particularly directed to a pneumatic delivery system for particulate crop material, such as hay or grain.

2. Prior Art Pneumatic or air delivery systems are frequently employed for delivery of particulate crop material, such as hay or grain, into and out of wagons, trucks, railroad cars, ships, storage elevators, processing plants and the like. Conventionally, in such systems, a high velocity flow of air is established through a duct system extending along the desired delivery route and the particulate crop material to be delivered is introduced into the air flow and is carried thereby to the desired delivery point. Numerous techniques have been employed here tofore for introducing the particulate crop material into the air flow. Some systems have employed mechanical devices for introducing the particulate crop material into the impellers or fans. However, such devices are subject to jamming and wear and require considerable maintenance. Other systems have employed vacuum techniques for drawing the particulate crop material into the air flow. However, the air movement in such systems is generally extremely turbulent with the result that, where hay is being delivered, the leaves are frequently torn from the stems. Thereafter, during ejection of the hay at the delivery point, the leaves and stems become separated, since the stems are considerably heavier than the leaves. As a result. the ratio of leaves to stems varies significantly across the area into which the hay is discharged. Such separation is undesirable since, where the hay is used to feed livestock, the nutritional value of the hay varies with the proportion of leaves. Similarly, where the hay is to be pelletized to produce feed products, a non-uniform product will result. Where grain is being delivered, such turbulence may drive the grain forcibly against the duct which tends to crack the hull of the grain and induce spoilage. Moreover, such turbulence provides non-uniform introduction of the particulate crop material into the air flow and tends to produce clogging of the intake which reduces or blocks the rate at which the particulate material is introduced into theair flow.

It is also customary, in prior art air delivery systems, to gradually decrease the cross-sectional area of the duct along the length thereof in order to maintain uniform air pressure throughout the delivery system. However, the reduction in area increases the likelihood of collision between the particulate crop material and the duct and between adjacent particles carried by the air flow. These factors tend to increase the damage to the particulate crop material and stop the free flow of air in an expanding manner.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome with the present invention and a novel air delivery system is provided whereby turbulence and damage to the particulate crop material are significantly reduced while the quantity of particulate material delivered in a given period of time is increased.

The'advantages of the present invention are preferably attained by establishing a high velocity flow of delivery air through a duct, creating a vacuum adjacent the intake end of the duct, introducing pressurized air adjacent the intake end of the duct upstream from the point where the vacuum is created to enhance introduction of particulate crop material into the flow of delivery air, and gradually expanding the cross-sectional area of the duct along the delivery route to reduce damage to the particulate crop material being delivered.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved delivery system for particulate crop material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved pneumatic delivery system with the air impellers not coming in contact with any of the solid crop material entering the air system.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide methods and apparatus for reducing damage to particulate crop material during delivery thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improved methods and apparatus for introducing particulate crop material into an air delivery system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide methods and apparatus for reducing jamming of the intake of air delivery systems by particulate crop material presented for delivery.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide methods and apparatus for delivering particulate material comprising establishing a high velocity flow of delivery air through a duct, creating a vacuum adjacent the intake end of the duct, introducing pressurized air adjacent the intake end of the duct upstream from the point where the vacuum is created to enhance introduction of particulate crop material into the flow of delivery air, and gradually expanding the cross-sectional area of the duct along the delivery route to reduce damage to the particulate crop material being delivered. Thus, always having the entire air system requiring more air or material to fill the vacuum.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a hay wagon embodying the air delivery system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the air delivery system of the wagon of FIG. 1, with parts broken away for clarity; and

FIG. 3 is the front elevation of an alternative intake mechanism for the air delivery system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT In that form of the present invention chosen for purposes of illustration in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 1 shows a hay wagon, indicated generally at 2, having a frame 4 carried by a suspension system 6 and formed with a suitable hitch 8 for attachment to a tractor or the like, not shown. A receptacle 10 is mounted on the frame 4 to receive hay delivered thereto by a delivery system, indicated generally at 12. The suspension system 6 is preferably of the type shown and described in my copending application, Ser. No. 117,574, filed Feb. 22, 1971. The details of the receptacle 10 are shown and described in my copending patent applications Ser. No, 195,709, tiled Nov. 4, 1971, and Ser. No. 195,609, filed Nov. 4, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,679, which issued Oct. 30, 1973.

The delivery system 12 comprises a rotary rake l4, driven by conventional means, not shown, which picks up hay from the ground and delivers the hay to the in-. take port 16 f duct 18 which extends completely across the wagon 2. As best seen in FIG. 2, a blower 20 supplies a high velocity flow of delivery air into duct 18 through opening 22 formed in the rear of duct 18 and also delivers a stream of pressurized air through secondary duct 24 to enter duct 18 adjacent intake port 16. A baffle 26 is mounted internally of duct 18 between opening 22 and intake port 16 and serves to produce a Venturi effect which creates a vacuum in duct 18 adjacent end 28 of baffle 26. Upper duct 30 has its lower end 32 dimensioned to fit telescopically about the upper end 34 of duct 18. The walls of upper duct 30 diverge outwardly from end 32 so that the cross-sectional area of duct 30 gradually increases along the length thereof and end 36 of duct 30 is curved to define a delivery port 38 which cooperates with an opening 40 in receptacle to deliver hay to the interior of receptacle 10. Obviously, in some instances, it may be necessary or desirable to interpose one or more intermediate duct sections between the intake duct 18 and the delivery duct 30. Where this is done, it is preferred that each duct section be dimensioned to fit telescopically about the next upstream duct section and that the crosssectional area of each duct section be gradually inhay into the flow of delivery air, supplied by blower through opening 22.,In conventional air delivery systems it is found that considerable turbulence is created as the atmospheric air enters duct 18 and hay entrained in the turbulent atmospheric air tends to become entrapped in the intake port 16 and causes jamming of the intake port 16. However, in accordance with the pres: ent invention, it is found that, when a stream of pressurized air is introduced into duct 18 adjacent intake port 16 through secondary duct 24, the turbulence is eliminated or considerably reduced and the hay entrained in the atmospheric air is introduced smoothly and rapidly into the delivery air, supplied by blower 20 through opening 22. Because of this, the hay feeds into and through the delivery system 12 at a higher rate than has been possible heretofore. Moreover, jamming of the intake port 16 and damage to the hay is significantly reduced. Damage to the hay is further reduced by gradually increasing the cross-sectional area of the delivery system 12 along the length thereof. This, of course, re-

4 duces the velocity of the delivery air flow. However, once the hay is entrained in the flow of delivery air from blower 20, adjacent end 28 of baffle 26 within duct 18, it is found that considerable reduction in the velocity of the delivery air can be tolerated without releasing the hay. Moreover, the reduction of velocity of the delivery air flow reduces the tendency of the delivery air to tear the leaves of the hay from the stems. Moreover, the expansion of the cross-sectional area of the delivery system 12 reduces the likelihood of damage to the hay resulting from, collisions between adjacent hay particles or between the hay particles and the walls of the ducts. Furthermore, even where some tearing of leaves from stems does occur, the reduction in the velocity of the delivery air tends to minimize sepa ration during discharge of the hay from the delivery system and, hence, tends to maintain a uniform distribution of the hay quality throughout the receiving receptacle 10. 7

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative form of intake for the delivery system of FIG. 1. In this form, the intake port 42 occupies only a relatively small portion of the frontal width of the wagon 2. Hay is picked from the ground by belt rake 44 and is delivered to augers 46 which carry the hay to the intake port 42. Intake port 42 is substantially identical in function to intake port 16 of FIGS. 1 and 2 and pressurized air is supplied to intake port 42 through secondary duct 48 to enhance feeding.

of hay through intake port 42 in the same manner as described with respect to secondary duct 24 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Obviously, numerous variations and modifications may be made without departing from the present invention. Accordingly, it should be clearly understood that the forms of the present invention described above and .shown inthe accompanying drawing are illustrative from within thelower portion of the. body to com pact the crop within the body;

apparatus disposed to blow the crop received from a field into the body;

the apparatus comprising a generally vertically ex tending air influent duct comprised of at least two telescopically interrelated sections, one section.

being reciprocated with the upper, section of the body toward the other section, thereby substantially reducingthe combined end-to'end length of the duct during compaction the duct being provided with a discharge openingcommunicating to said body and the other section being stationary. 

1. A wagon for loosely receiving a crop comprising: a crop-receiving body; the body comprising a lower portion and an upper compacting portion; power means for reciprocating the upper compacting portion of the body generally down into and up from within the lower portion of the body to compact the crop within the body; apparatus disposed to blow the crop received from a field into the body; the apparatus comprising a generally vertically extending air influent duct comprised of at least two telescopically interrelated sections, one section being reciprocated with the upper section of the body toward the other section thereby substantially reducing the combined end-to-end length of the duct during compaction the duct being provided with a discharge opening communicating to said body and the other section being stationary. 